Ohio to simplify health orders, still focus on masks, social distancing
COLUMBUS – Gov. Mike DeWine said Ohio will “simplify” its health orders but will still require precautions like masks.
DeWine wouldn’t detail specifics during a Monday morning visit to Ohio State University’s Schottenstein Center vaccination clinic. He said the orders will emphasize basic practices: wearing masks, maintaining distance, washing hands and spending more time outside rather than inside.
“If we can keep those things in mind, those four things, we’re going to be able to do about anything we want to do this summer,” DeWine said. “People are tired. They’ve been at this for a year and so it has to be simple.”
DeWine said he would share additional information at a 2 p.m. news conference.
Vaccines for college students
DeWine visited Ohio State as the state started a push to vaccinate college students against COVID-19. DeWine said the number of COVID-19 cases among younger Ohioans is increasing, so this focus is needed.
The goal: Offer COVID-19 vaccines to as many college students as possible before they return home from school. Ohio will offer the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine on campuses statewide.
Chris Petrilla, 22, of Medina, said getting the vaccine will help protect people around him.
“This past year for a lot of the seniors hasn’t been what we expected and I hope that by next year, by vaccinating, we can all contribute to help make it seem a little bit more normal,” he said.
Younger people are much less likely to die or be hospitalized from COVID-19, but they can still carry the virus to more susceptible people.
“It’s not a no-risk situation,” DeWine said.
Sydney Meade, 20, of Toledo, contracted COVID-19 in June. Mead said she had a high fever, was sick for four days and lost seven pounds.
“Luckily, I didn’t have to be hospitalized or anything and I recovered pretty quickly, but it was not fun while I was in it,” she said.
As of Saturday, 2.17 million people had been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in Ohio, about 18.6% of the state. Of those vaccinated, 132,533 were 29 years old or younger, according to Ohio Department of Health data.
Vaccines in more places
DeWine is talking with schools about ways to provide Pfizer vaccines for 16-year-olds and 17-year-olds whose parents approve the shots.
Ohio is also allowing businesses to set up workplace clinics.
“We have to do everything we can to take it to the people of the state in a way that is convenient for them,” DeWine said.
Ohio is in a race to vaccinate more people as COVID-19 variants continue to spread. Vaccines are effective against the more dangerous variants, such as B.1.1.7.
“It’s just much more contagious and that’s what we face,” DeWine said.
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